Nuclear alkyl derivatives of phenol compounds



Patented June 25, 1940 UNITED STATES.

PATENT -oFF c NUCLEAR ALKYL DERIVATIVES OF PHENOL COMPOUNDS Lawrence H. Fiett, Hamburg, N. 1., assignor to National Aniline dz Chemical Company, Inc New York, N. L, a corporation of New York No Drawing. Application September 25 1935 v V Serial No. 42,155

i as (01. 250-512) This invention relates to the production of chemical compounds. It relates more particularly to the production of compounds which are nuclear alkyl derivatives of phenol and cresols and 5 their sulfonic acids, in which the alkyl group contains at least 12 carbon atoms, more particularly 12 to 23 carbon atoms and especially 14to 19 carbon atoms.

I According to the present invention a primary,

saturated alcohol containing at least lz-carbon atoms (preferably 12 to 23, and especially 14 to 19, carbon atoms) is condensed with phenol or a cresol, preferably with the aid of a metal halide condensing agent, to produce the corre:

' spending nuclear alkyl phenol, and theresulting alkyl phenol is sulfonated.

It has been found when a straight chain, primary, saturated alcohol containing at least 12 2 carbon atoms is condensed with phenol or a mate) carbon atom of the alcohol, with the resuit that the product is principally a secondaryalkyl phenol or cresol in which a secondary hy- 3 'drocarbon radical containing at least 12 carbon atomsis directly linked to the phenol nucleus by the secondary carbon atom, and corresponding with the general formula 40 in which A is hydrogen or. a methyl group and R is a saturated alkyl hydrocarbon radical containing at least 10- carbon atoms. For convenience, such compounds are referred to as monoalkyl? phenolcompounds, although they may also contain a methyl group when the phenol employed is a crescl.' The sulfonatedproducts in the free acid or salt form correspond with the general'formula cresol to produce the corresponding nuclear alkyl.

a saturated alkyl hydrocarbon radical containing at least 10 carbon atoms, and M represents hydrogen, a'metal, the ammonium radical or an organicammonium radical. It has further been found, according to the present invention, when 5 the resulting alkyl phenol (and cresol) sulfonic acids'are employed in the arts, particularly in the form of their soluble salts and especially their, alkali metal salts, very advantageous detergent,

wetting and foaming action is obtained. They show unusual cleaning action under a wide variety of conditions. Without limiting the invention to any theoretical considerations, it appears the branched carbon chain alkyl radical which results from the process contributes-to the V valuable properties of the products.

The invention is of particular advantagein that it permits the production of the said branched chain nuclear alkyl derivatives of phenol and cresol and the sulfonic acids from 20, readily available, straight-chain, saturated, primary higher fatty alcohols (as for example, laurylalcohol, myristylialcohol, cetyl alcohol,-

stearyl alcohol, and the like) as well as mixtures thereof 'with each other or with otheralcohols, '25

. which in turn can be obtained from naturally occurring animal or vegetable oils, fats, waxs, etc. and/or their corresponding fatty acids..

The invention will be illustrated by the following specific examples in which the parts are by-weight and temperatures are in degrees centigrade. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the scope of the invention is not limited to these specific examples.

Example 1.--Equal parts of solid cetyl alcohol and anhydrous phenol are melted and mixed together. An amount of powdered anhydrous zinc chloride equal in weight to the cetyl alcohol is then added and the whole mass is refluxed for 16 to 20 hours with sufllcient agitation to keep -.the zinc chloride in suspension, the temperature during the refluxing varying between 175 and 185. The parts by weight of the ingredients employed are equivalent to one mol of cetyl alcoho], 2.6 mols of anhydrous phenol and 1.8 mols of anhydrous zinc chloride. The condensation reaction mass is cooled and allowed to stand sumciently to set and settle the zinc chloride, the oily layer (crude cetyl phenol) is decanted and washed with one-third of its weight of hot water to to decompose any zinc chloride com-' plot or double salts. Any emulsionformed during the washing is broken by the addition of small quantities of sodium chloride. The washed oil is separated fromwater by stratification and is 5 then distilled under a vacuum to purify it. The fraction boiling between 190 and 225' at 4 mm. pressure is separately collected and represents the purified cetyl phenol. It is a viscous oil. pracg tically insoluble in water but soluble in many organic solvents. As distinguished from the isomeric normal straight chain primary cetyl phenol, which is obtained by fusion of the co cetyl benzene sulfonate with caustic alkali and which is a solid melting at 77.5 C. and boiling at about 260 C. at 16 mm. pressure, the cetyl phenol of this example is a lower boiling viscous oil. The principal constituent is para-cetyl-phenol having the probable formula: on

K cmwnoucm 3cm To parts of the purified cetyl phenol, 36

25 parts of 100% sulfuric acid are added with sufiicient agitation to insure thorough mixing without aerating the mass; the temperature of the mass being maintained below 50. and the sulfuric acid being added gradually so s s to avoid exceeding this temperature. The mass is further agi- 0 'with the aid of stirring and gentle heating, followed by neutralization with sodium hydroxide solution until the solution reacts faintly acid to Congo red test paper, remains clear upon addition of 220 cc. of distilled water and furthermore,

when 1 cc. of a 1015 cam: solution is addedto the resulting diluted solution, the precipitate which forms disappears upon stirring, leaving a clear solution. Upon completion of the sulfonatlon.

the-sulfonatlon reaction mixture is poured with gostirringinto2'l5partsofwatercontaining23 parts of sodium hydroxide, the addition being sufilciently gradual to avoid rise in the temperature of the resulting solution above 00. There is thus obtained sodium cetyl phenol sulfonate in an aqueous solution containing sodium sulfate in a considerable amount. The hydrogen ion concentration of the resulting solution may be adiusted to the desired value by suitable acidification or treatment'with alkalL' The resulting go solution is dried on an atmospheric rotary drum drier heated with steam at 40 to poundsprea-.

sure, the product being scraped from the rolls in a granular .to flake-like or,powdered form. In order to avoid corrosion of the drying mils. the product is preferably dried in a slightly alkaline condition. The product may also be dried in shallow pans or trays in a vacuum drier at tem-' peratures not exceeding Example 2.-l00 parts of commercial eetyl alcohol (containing 30 to-40% of normal cetyl'aleohol, 30 to 40% of higher alcohols thancetyl, such as stearyl alcohol, etc., about 10 per cent of normal lauryl alcohol and about 20 percent of normal myristyl alcohol), 100 parts of phenol, and 100 I is parts anhydrous zinc chloride are heated at to under a reflux condenser, with agitation for 16 hours oruntil condensation is practically complete. I

The condensation product is washed with water until practically free from water soluble products. The resulting oil is fraetionally distilled in vacuo. The fraction of the distillate which is collected between and 240 at 15 mm. pressure of mercury is a faint yellow to water-white oil consisting chiefly of a mixture of allrv ohenols having the probable formula:

\OHOOH c.

- in which Rm is a straight chain hydrocarbon the compound in which R- is CuHsa predominating, with a small amount of normal alkyl phenols and probably some ortho isomers present. It is practically insoluble in water and soluble in many organic solvents.

100 parts of the purified hexadecyl (cetyl) phenol thus obtained, 40 parts of acetic anhydride, and 160 parts of sulfuric acid monohydrate are mixed together and warmed gently to '10-75 until the product is completely soluble in water and a 0.2 per cent solution of which, after neutralization, does not precipitate calcium salts from a solution of calcium chloride or other soluble calcium salt containing the equivalent of 0.224 gram calcium-oxide per'liter. The mass isdilutedwithwatertoailnalvolume of450to 600 parts and neutralized with alkali, as for example, caustic soda or caustic potash or their equivalents. The neutral solution is clarified. if

desired. by filtration, and evaporated to dryness.

The product is a brown to white solid soluble in water to give brown to water-white solutions. It comprises a mixture of inorganic salts (e. g., sodium sulfate) with sulfonates of; the said alkyl phenols (e. g., in the form of the sodium salts), of which mixture the inorganic salts constitute 'in the'neighborhood of 60 per cent. The alkyl phenol sulfonates contained therein are soluble In this example,;if crude or undistilled hexadecyl phenol is used. a product having inferior detergent properties but having valuable insecticidal and emulaifyina proper es is obtained.

Immplc 3.The neutralized solution of hexadecyl phenol sulfonic acid prepared in Example 2 or the equivalent aqueous solution prepared from the final dry sulfonates, is diluted with an equal volume of commercial denatured alcohol, thoroughly mixed for several hours, filtered and evaporated to dryness; or the dry sulfonates are extracted with successive portions of denatured alcohol, the total amount of alcohol used for this extraction being preferably approximately four times the weight of the dry unextracted sulfonate, the combined extracts are. mixed and digested with a small amount of animal charcoal, filtered and evaporated to dryness. The residue obtained in either case is a sodium hexadecyl phenol sulfonate practically free from salts of mineralacids. Byaddingasmallamountof alkali before evaporation, a white, friable solid having a soap-like appearance and which is readily soluble in water is obtained.

trample 4.l00 parts of octadecyl alcohol (stearylalcohol), 100 parts of phenol. and 100 in alcohol, bensene and other organic solvents.

r 2,205,047 W4 arts offilfidrous Zinc clilfiide are mixedm refluxed for about 16 hours. The condensation product is washed withwater tillpractically free of water-soluble products and the resulting oil is fractionally distilled in vacuo. The fraction of the distillate collected between 235 to 270 at 14 mm. mercury pressure comprises chiefly pararesponding ortho isomers. It is a viscous oil practically insoluble in water and soluble in many organic solvents, and having a lower boiling point than the isomeric normal straight chain primary octadecyl phenol obtained by fusion of the corresponding octadecyl benzene sulfonate with caustic alkali.

100 parts of the resulting octadecyl phenol, 2o

' parts of acetic anhydride and '10 parts of'26% v group.

oleum are mixed slowly at 40 and gently warmed to a temperature of until a sample is completely soluble in water and a 0.2 'per cent solution of which, after neutralization, does not precipitate calciumsalts from a solution of calcium chloride (or other soluble calcium salt solution) containing the equivalent of 0.224 gram calcium oxide per liter. The mass is diluted, neutralized and finished as described in Example 2.

Instead of the alkyl phenols and mixtures employed in the above examples for the production of sulfonated alkyl phenol products, other alkyl phenols and cresols and mixtures thereof may be similarly prepared and sulfonated. The following additional examples illustrate the preparation of such alkyl phenol products.

Example" 5,- parts of commercial cetyl alcohol, 100 parts p-cresol and 10.0 parts anhydrous zinc chloride. are refluxed as in Example 2 for 5 to 16 hours and the product is recovered by washing the resulting oil with dilute hydrochloric acid and fractionally distilling the washed oil in vacuo. The fraction of the distillate which is collected between 202 to 218 at 3 mm. pressure consists chiefly of a mixture of alkyl cresols in which the predominating compound is a secondary cetyl pcresol having the probable formula the predominating compounds are secondary cetyl m-cresols having the secondary cetyl group in the orthoor para-position to the hydroxyl Example 00 parts of commercial lauryl'alcohol (obtained by hydrogenation of fatty acids constituent is oil). 100 parts parts of anhydrous zinc chloride are, mixed and refluxed at to 200 C. with agitation for about 16 hours. The condensation product is washed with water until practically free of water-soluble products, and the resulting oil is fractionally distilled in vacuo. The fraction of the distillate collected as a faint yellow to waterwhite oil between 210 and 230 at 13 mm. mercury pressure consists chiefly of alkyl phenols of which the probable formula of the principal Example 8.100 parts of commercial lauryl alcohol (obtained by hydrogenation of fatty acids derived from cocoanut oil and containing capryl. decyl, lauryl, myristyl, cety'l and stearyl alcohols), 100 parts of ortho-cresol and 100 parts of anhydrous zinc chloride are mixed, and refluxed at 190 to 200 with agitation for about 10 hours. The condensation product is washed with water until practically free of water-soluble products, and the resulting oil is fractionally distilled in vacuo. The fraction of the distillate collected between 215 and 230 at 13 mm. mercury pressure is a faint yellow to water-white oil and consists of a mixture of alcyl substituted orthocresols'of which the principal components have the probable formulae:

in which ALK is a straight chain alkyl hydrocarthe formula CroHzr.

Example 9.Cresylic acid (a commercial mixture of cresols) is substituted for the ortho-' cresol of Example 8. The fraction of the distillate boiling between 215-240 at 13 mm. mer- .cury pressure is separately collected. It is a faint yellow to water-whiteoil comprising a mixture of long chain alkyl derivatives of ortho-, meta-, and para-cresol.

- As above indicated, changes may be made in the process hereinbefore described without departing from the scope of the invention.

Thus, phenol, ortho-, meta-, or. para-cresol or their mixtures may be employed. The alcohol employed for condensation with the phenol or cresol is a straight chain, primary alcoho containing at least 12'carbon atoms, preferably 12 to 23 carbon atoms, and especially 14 to 19 carbon atoms.

As condensing agents'there may be employed anhydrous zinc chloride, anhydrous aluminum chloride, anhydrous antimonic chloride, -anhydrous ferric chloride, etc. Zinc chloride is preferred as the condensing agent. While the zinc chloride and other metal halide condensing agents mentioned have been referred toas anhydrous, it is noted that said condensing agents may be employed in a partially hydrated condition containing small amounts of water, for instance such as are absorbed from the surrounding atmosphere or otherwise in commercial operation, but insuilicient to interfere with their action as condensing agents. v

Preferably-the proportionof alcohol employed with respect to the phenol issuch that not more than one alkyl radical of the type represented by R in the foregoing formula is contained in the resulting alkyl phenol. Thus, at least 1.25 mole of phenol per mol of alcohol is preferably employed in the condensation. A ratio as low as 1 to 1 or lower may be employed. but the yield of the resulting alkyl phenol containing one long alkyl group will be less. The amount of condensing agent employed also may vary. In general a long chain alcohol (as for example, lauryl or cetyl alcohol) requires at least about an equal weight of zinc chloride for best results.

The time during which the condensation reaction of the alcohol and phenol may be carried out also may be varied. For example, a satisfactory yield of alkyl phenol in general can be obtained by heating the alcohol, the phenol and anhydrous zinc chloride at refluxing temperature conditions forv about 7 hours and at lower temperatures for correspondingly longer periods of time. The quality of the recovered alkyl phenols and the detergency of the alkyl phenol sulfonates produced therefrom appear to beimproved however by carrying out the heating for a longer period of time. With zinc chloride as the condensing agent, the period of heating at refluxing temperatures may be extended to 16 hours or more without seriously harming the quality or substantially decreasing the yield of the alkyl phenol. and at a temperature of about 135 C. the period of heating may similarly be hours or more. I

The crude alkyl phenol resulting from the condensation is preferably purified, as for example, by fractional distillation and collecting a middle fraction having in general a boiling point range of not more than 100' C., and the purified compound is preferably employed for sulfonation.

strengths (e. g., 66' Be. sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid monohydrate, oleum) chlorosulfonic acid. etc. As solvents or diluent there may be employed any inert organic liquid which is not readily sulfonated; such as halogenated hydrocarbons of the aliphatic and aromatic series, as for'example, carbon tetrachloride, dichlorethane, tetrachlorethane, dichlorbensene, etc. When an 'inert solvent or diluent is used, it may be separated from the alkaline aqueous solution of the sulfonic acid salt of the alkyl phenol which results upon diluting the sulfonation mass with water and neutralising or it may be separated in the process of drying said salt. As sulfonation assistants there may be employed thelower organic acids and/or their anhydrides, as for ex-v ample, acetic acid, acetic anhydrlde, etc.

The sulfonation may be carried outwith the aid of heating or cooling,- as required. depending upon the ease of suifonation of the alkyl phenol or cresol and the sulfonating power of the sulfonation is carriedout at a temperature in the neighborhood of about 25 to about 80' C. The ratio ofsulfonating agent employed with respect to the alkyl phenol also may be varied. While the preferred amounts are given in the above examples, an amount of sulfuric acid or other sulfonating agent equivalent to from l'to about 5 parts by weight of sulfuric acid monohydrate per part by weight of the alkyl phenol may be employed.

The extent to which the sulfonation is carrled out may vary with the individual material being sulfonated and the use to be made of the sulfonated product. In generalythe extent of sulfonation of the alkyl phenol treated is such as to form chiefly the monosulfonic acid of the alkyl phenol, and to sulfonate impurities as well, if present. In some cases, a degree of sulfonation which corresponds with a product havin maximum detergent properties is not completely soluble in water to form a clear solution and/or may cause some precipitation of lime salts. (An aqueous solution of calcium chloride containing the equivalent of 0.224 gram of calcium oxide per liter of solution is merely employed in the above examples as a representative hard water solution for test purposes. It is to be noted that the invention is in no respect limited thereto.)

The alkyl phenol sulfonates may be produced in accordance with the present invention in the form of their free sulfonic acids or in the form of salts of metals (as foriexample, of the alkali metals) or oforganic based, or of ammonia, etc. The salts may be obtained, in any suitable manner; for example by reacting the sulfonated prodnot, either in the crude form resulting from the 'sulfonation or in'a purified form, with a metal oxide or hydroxide, ammonia or an organic base, or of a suitable salt of one of these, in an amount adapted to form a neutral product. Among the bases, oxides and salts which may be combined with the sulfonated products to produce salts in accordance with the present invention are, for example, sodium, potassium and ammonium hydroxides; sodium, potassium and ammonium carbonates and bicarbonates; ammonia; magnesium oxide; ethylamine; pyridine; triethanolamine; propanolamines; butanolamines; diamino propanol; ethylenediamine; trietliylene tetramine; etc.

. The reaction mixtures resulting from the sulfonation ofthe alkyl phenol or cresol may also be directly employed for the formation of mixed products, as for example mixtures of salts of the albl phenol sulfonic acid and of other acids present. in said reaction mixtures, which mixtures of salts are also useful as such. Thus. the sulfonation reaction mixture resulting from the treatment of the alkyl phenol or cresol with an amount of sulfonating agent inexcess of that theoretically required to effect the desired degree of sulfonation' may be treated with a suitableinorganic or organic base or basic salt (as for example, one of those mentioned) and the resulting mixture of the salt of the sulfonated alkyl phenol or cresol and the salt of the other acid (as for example, sodium sulfate) may be jointly isolated from the reaction mixture and employed as such. If it is desired to produce a salt of the sulfonated alkyl phenol or cresol in a form substantially free from inorganic salts (for example. inorganic sulfates) this may be accomplished by taking advantage of the solubility of the salts of the sulfonated products in alcohol and other organic solvents. Thus a r mixture of a salt of the sulionated product and an inorganic sulfate may be extracted with alcohol, and the resulting extract may be evaporated to leave a residue of the purified salt of the suli'onated' product, as described in Example 3.

The sulfonated products in ,the form of metal-- 'lic salts or salts of inorganic bases are usually yellowish to white, friable solids; and in the 1' form 01' salts of organic bases vary from viscous" insoluble in water because of the presence of or-- ganic impurities but soluble in organic solvents (as for example, benzene, gasoline, etc.) and in aqueous solutions oi alkalis (presumably by conversion to the salts of the alkalis).

This application is a continuation-in-part 0! ll applications Serial Nos. 691,081 and 591,082, flied September 26, 1933.

I claim: 1. A method of producing a nuclear alkyl derivative of a sulionated phenol, which'comprises forming a phenol compound containing a higher alkyl substituent by condensing a phenol compound otthe group consisting of phenol and its monomethyl derivatives with a saturated, primary alcohol containing at least 12 carbon atoms with the aid of a condensing agent, the amount of alcohol not exceeding about that required to produce monoalkylation of the phenol compound, and sulfonating the alkylated phenol compound.

2. A method of producing a nuclear alkyl derivative of a sulfonated phenol, which comprises forming a phenol compound containing a higher alkyl substituent by condensing a phen'ol compound of the group consisting of phenol and its monomethyl derivatives with a saturated, prl-.

4,: mary alcohol containing atleast 12 carbon atoms with the aid ef e metal halide condensing agent,

the amount of alcohol not exceeding about that required to produce monoalkylation oi the phenol compound, and sulionating the alklated phenol compound.

3. A method of producing a nuclear albl derivative of a sulfonated phenol, which comprises forming a phenol compound containing a higher alkyl substituent by condensing a phenol comll pound of the group'consisting of phenol and its monomethyl derivatives with a saturated, primary alcohol containing 12 to 23 carbon atoms.

' with the aid of a metal halide condensing agent,

the amount of alcohol not exceeding about that required to produce monoalkylation of the phenol compound, and sultonating the alkylated phenol compound I 5. A method of producing nuclear m1 derivatives of sulionated phenols, which comprises viorming aphenol compound containing a higher alkyl substituent by condensing a phenol compound of the group consisting of phenol and its monomethyl derivatives with a mixture of 9100- 5 hols containing at least 2 saturated primary alcohols, each havingat least 12 carbon atoms,

- with the aid 0! a metal halide condensing agent,

said alcohols corresponding with the fatty acid =radicals of naturally occuring oils, lists and 10 waxes, the amount 0! alcohol mixture not exceeding about that required to produce monoalkylation of the phenol compound, and sulionating the resulting mixture oi alblatedphenol' compounds. ll

6. A method of producing a nuclear alkyl derivative of a sulionatedphenol, which comprises reacting one vmol of a phenol compound of the group consisting of phenol and its monomethyl derivatives with less than one moi of a saturated, I

primary alcohol containing at least 12 carbon atoms and anhydrous zincchloride, whereby the corresponding alkyl phenol compound is produced, and sulionating said alkyl phenol compound.

7. A method of producing a nuclear alkyl derivative of a suli'onated phenol, which comprises heating about one moi of a straight chain, saturated, primary alcohol containing ,14, to 19 carbon atoms with at least 1.25 mols of phenol and anhydrous zinc chloride to produce the corresponding aikyl phenol, and suli'onating the alkyl'phenol. n

8. Amethod of producing a nuclear allryl' derivative of a sulfonated phenol, which comprises heating about one mol of commercial cetyl alcohol with at least 1.25 mols of phenol and anhydrous zinc chloride to produce a mixture of monoalkyl phenols comprising secondary-cetyl phenol, and sulionating the mixture 01' alkyl 4. phenols.

9. A method of producing a nuclear alkyl derivative of a phenol, which comprises condensing a phenol compound of the group consisting or phenol and its monomethyl derivaives with a 4g saturated, primary alcohol containing at least 12 carbon atoms with the aid of a condensing agent, the amount of alcohol not exceeding about that required to produce monoalkylation of the phenol compound. so

. 10. A method of-producing a nuclear alkyl def rivative of'a phenol, which comprises condensing a phenol compound of the group consisting of phenol and its monomethyl derivatives with a saturated, primary alcohol containing at least 12 I8 carbon atoms with the aid-oi a metal halide condensing agent, the amount of alcohol not exceeding about that required to produce monoalkylation of the phenol compound.

11. A method of producing nuclear alkyl de- Q rivatives oi phenols, which comprises forming a phenol compound containing a higher aikyl- 'substituent by condensing a phenol compound of the groupconsisting oi. phenol and its monomethyl derivatives with a mixture 01' alcohols 65 containing atleast 2 saturated primary alcohols, each having at least 12 carbon atoms, with the. aid of a metal halide condensing agent, said alcohols corresponding with the fatty acid radicals of naturally occurring oils, fats and waxes, the [0 amount of alcohol mixture not exceeding about that required to produce monoalkylation oi the phenol compound.

12. A method oi producing a nuclear alkyl derivative 01' a phenol, which comprises react- I ing one mol of a phenol compound of the group consisting of phenol and its monomethyl derivatives wlth'less than one mol of a. saturated, primary alcohol containing a least 12 carbon atoms 2' and anhydrous zinc chloride.

13. A method at producing a nuclear alhl derivative of a phenol, which comprises heating about'one mol of a straight chain, saturated, primary alcohol containing 14 to 19 carbon atoms with at least 1.25 mole of phenol and anhydrous zinc chloride. 1

14. A nuclear alkyl derivative of a phenol selected from the group consisting oiphenol and its monomethyl derivatives containing at least 12 carbon atoms in a single secondary hydrocarbon radical directly linked to the phenol nu cleus by the'secondary carbon atom.

15. A nuclear alkyl derivative 01- a phenol se-- lected from the group consisting of. phenol and its monomethyl derivatives containing at least 12 carbon atoms in a'single secondary hydrocarbon radical directly iinked'to the phenol nucleus by the secondary carbon atom, said nuclear derivative of phenol corresponding with the general formula on a ' A Ha M in which A is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen and the methyl radical and R is a saturated alkyl hydrocarbon radical contai at least 10 carbon atoms.

16. A nuclear alkyl derivative of a phenol selected from the group consisting of phenol and its monomethyl derivatives containing 12 to 23 carbon atoms in a single secondary hydrocarbon radical directly linked to the phenol nucleus by the secondary carbon atom, said nuclear alkyl derivative of phenol corresponding with the general formula .inwhichAisamemberorthe'groupconsisting or hydrogen and the methyl radical and R. is a saturated alkyl hydrocarbon radical 'containing 10 to 21 carbon atoms.

1'7. A method or-producinga nuclear alkyl derivative 01' a suli'onated phenol, which comprises sulfonating a nuclear alkyl derivative of a phenol selected from the group consisting of I phenol and its monomethyl derivatives containing at least 12 carbon atoms in a single'secondary hydrocarbon radical directly linked to the V phenol nucleus by the secondary carbon atom.

18. A method of producing a nuclear alkyl derivative of a sulionated phenol, which comprises bon radical directly linked to the phenol nucleus by the secondary carbon atom, said nuclear derivative oi phenol corresponding with the general formula A a 3-01!- Jan. in which A is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen and the methyl radical and R. is a saturated alkyl hydrocarbon radical containing at least 10 carbon atoms.

20. A method oi producing a nuclear alkyl derivative of a sulfonated phenol, which comprises suli'onating a nuclear alkyl derivative of a phenol selected from the group consisting of phenol and its monomethyl'derivatives containing 12 to 23 carbon atoms in a single secondary hydrocarbon radical directly linked to the phenol nucleus by the secondary carbon atom, said nuclear alkyl derivative of phenol corresponding with the general formula phatic'alcohol containing a chain oi. 12 to 18 carbon atoms in the presence of an inorganic dehydrating agent, said products being characterized by the fact that their melting and boiling points are less than those of isomeric normal straight chain primary alkyl phenols which are made by fusion oi alkyl benzene sulphonates with caustic alkali. y I

22. The long chain alkylated phenols obtained by condensing approximately two mole of a phenol compound selected from the group consisting of phenol and its monomethyl derivatives with one mol of a primary saturated aliphatic alcohol containing a chain of from 12 to lacarbon atomsinthepresenceoianhydrous -ainc chloride, said products being characterized by the fact that their melting and boiling points are less than those of isomeric normal straight chainprimary alkylphenolswhicharemadeby fusion of alkyl bensene sulphonates with caustic 23. Tim long chain alkylated phenol obtainable hy condensing a primary dodecyl alcohol andphenolinthepresenceoianhydroussinc chloride at a condensation temperature, said product being characterized by the fact that its melting and boiling points are less than those of the normal dodecyl phenol which is-made by reduction of normal dodecylyl phenol.

24. me procas or making a dodecyl phenol which comprises heating and agitating a primary dodeeyl alcohol, phenol, and anhydrous. zinc chloride, washing the liquid product with water, and i'ractionating the liquid product.

25. The method of producing dodeoyl phenol which comprises heating at a condensation temcondensation temperature a reaction mixture containing phenol, lauryl alcohol and zinc chloride as a condensing agent.

27. The long chain alkyl phenols obtained by condensing a phenol selected from the group consisting of phenol and its monomethyl derivatives with primary, saturated aliphatic alcohols'containing chains of at least 12 carbon atoms in the presence of an inorganic dehydrating agent, said products being characterized-by the fact that their melting and boiling points are less than those of isomeric'normal straight chain primary alkyl phenols which are made by fusion of alkyl benzene sulphonates with caustic alkali.

28. The long chain monoalkyl phenols obtained by condensing a phenol selected from the group consisting of phenol and its monomethyl derivatives with primary, saturated aliphatic alcohols containing chains of at least 12 carbon atoms in the presence of anhydrous zinc chloride, said products being characterized by the fact that their melting and boiling points are less than those of isomeric normal straight chain primary alkyl phenols which are made by fusion of alkyl benzene sulphonates with caustic alkali.-

29. The long chain monoalkyl phenols obtained by reacting phenol compounds selected from the group consisting of phenol and its monomethyl derivatives with normal, primary aliphatic alcohols having chains containing at least 12 carbon atoms in the presence of a dehydrating agent, said products being characterized by the fact that their melting and boiling points are less than those of isomeric normal straight chain primary alkyl phenols which are made by fusion of alkyl benzene sulphonates with caustic alkali. l

30. The long chain monoalkyl phenols obtained by reacting phenol compoundsselected from the group consisting of phenol and its monomethyl derivatives withnormahprimary saturated ali-- phatic alcohols having chains containing at least 12 carbon atoms in the presence of a dehydrating agent, said products being characterized by the fact that their melting and boiling points are less than those of isomeric normal straight chain primary alkyl phenols which are made by fusion of alkyl benzene 'sulphonates with caustic alkali.

I 31. The long chain monoalkyl phenols obtained by condensing approximately one mol of a phenol selected from the group consisting of phenol and its monomethyl derivatives with at least onehalf mol of primary, saturated aliphatic alcohols containing chains of 12 to carbon atoms in the presence of anhydrous zinc chloride at a condensation temperature not greatly above the reflux temperature, said products being characterized bythe fact that their melting and boiling points are less than those of isomeric normal straight chain primary alkyl phenols which are made by I fusion of alkyl benzene sulphonates with caustic alkali.

32. The long chain monoalkyl phenols obtained by reacting a phenol selected from the group consisting of phenol and its monomethyl derivatives with lauryl alcohol in the presence of an inclganic compound capable of functioning as a dehydrating agent at the reaction temperature,

said products being characterized by the fact thattheir melting and boiling points are less than those of the isomeric normal dodecyl phenol which is made .by reduction. of the corresponding normal dodecylyl phenol.

33. The process of preparing long chain alkyl phenols which comprises condensing a phenol selected from the group consisting of phenol and its monomethyl derivatives with a primary dodecyl alcohol in the presence of anhydrous zinc chloride, cooling the reaction mixture, purifying the reaction mixture, and distilling the products.

34. The process-of making long chain alkyl phenols which comprises heating a primary dodecyl alcohol with a phenol selected from the group consisting of phenol and its monomethyl derivatives, in the presence of anhydrous zinc chloride at a condensation temperature, cooling the reaction mixture, washing it with water, and distilling the product to obtain a secondarydodecyl phenol.

35. The long chain alkyl phenols obtained by reacting a phenol selected from the group con-.

sisting of phenol and'its monomethyl derivatives with the mixture of alcohols obtained by hydrogenating coconut oil, in the presence of an inorganic compound capable of functioning as a dehydrating agent at the reaction temperature.

mwamcn a; 1mm.

' 36. The long chain alkyl phenols obtained by 

